Dustpan with a latching mechanism

ABSTRACT

A dustpan has a dustpan receptacle, a handle and a novel latching mechanism, which enables the dustpan receptacle to be latched in a horizontal position for a waste pick up and unlatched by hand or foot in a vertically extended position for a direct waste disposal and easier storage. The novel latching mechanism has two latching members interacting with each other and connecting the dustpan receptacle to the handle. Compared to dustpans in the prior art, the present dustpan is less fatiguing to use, and easier to construct and repair.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to waste receptacles, and moreparticularly to dustpans used for picking up debris.

The present invention relates to a dustpan of the type having a latchingmechanism enabling a dustpan receptacle to have two positions: a latchedhorizontal position and an unlatched vertical position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Dustpans of the general type described herein and known in the prior arthave a receptacle portion pivotally mounted and hooked to a handle.Dustpans in the prior art are usually unhooked by exerting downwardpressure on the handle. The main disadvantage of those dustpans is thatwhen the handle of the unhooked receptacle is lifted, the receptaclerotates to a position of axial alignment with the shaft preventing thewaste from falling out and thus necessitating the manual movement of thereceptacle to dispose the waste.

Some dustpans known in the prior art are capable of being unhooked toassume a vertically extended position. However, such dustpans require amechanism located within the handle. As a result, it is more difficultto make and repair them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the problems in the prior art by providinga novel latching mechanism comprising two latching members interfacingeach other and connecting the dustpan receptacle to the handle, whichenables the dustpan receptacle to have two positions: a latchedhorizontal position for a waste pick up and an unlatched verticalposition for a direct waste disposal into trashcans.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dustpanwith a simplified operational mode so that it is less fatiguing to theuser.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improveddustpan with a simplified construction and repair mode.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from reading the following detailed description of theinvention and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the dustpan in its unlatchedvertical position.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the dustpan in its unlatchedhorizontal position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the dustpan in its unlatchedhorizontal position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary, front elevational view of thelatching mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an exploded, fragmentary, rear elevational view of thelatching mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the dustpan in its latchedposition.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the dustpan receptacle.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, in particular to FIGS. 1-8 thereof, thepresent invention, a dustpan with a novel latching mechanism, denoted byreference numeral 1 will be described. A dustpan 1 is shown comprising adustpan receptacle 2, a handle 3 and a latching mechanism 4 consistingof two members: an upper latching member 5 and a lower latching member6. The handle 3 is connected to the upper latching member 5 and thelower latching member 6. The dustpan receptacle 2 is connected to thelower latching member 6 by a pivotal connection 7. The upper latchingmember 5 and the lower latching member 6 are connected and interfaceeach other. The handle 3 has a lower end 8 and an upper end 8 a.

The upper latching member 5 has a first latching interface 9 (consideredto be the front surface of the upper latching member 5) and a backsurface 10 and consists of a plate 11, and an open ended hollow rod 12for accepting a part of the handle 3. The plate 11 has a top edge 13, abottom edge 14, and two spaced apart parallel and equal side edges 15.The plate has a rectangular form where the top edge 13 and the bottomedge 14 have equal lengths, which are smaller than the length of theside edges 15. The plate 11 can have a different geometric form.

The hollow rod 12 is attached to the first latching interface 9 of theupper latching member 5) so that more than a half of the hollow rod 12raises above the top edge 13. There are two pointed protrusions 16, oneon each side of the hollow rod 12. The pointed protrusions 16 can be inthe form of ramps or right angle triangles where the right angle isaligned with the angle formed between the hollow rod 12 and the top edge13 of the plate 11. The first latching interface 9 also contains twospaced apart parallel protrusions 17, located equidistantly from thecenterline of the plate 11 and near the bottom edge 14 and the sideedges 15. The protrusions 16 are columnar and have a cross section inthe form of an equilateral triangle. One side of the equilateraltriangle is parallel to the top edge 13 and the bottom edge 14 of theplate 11, the second side of the equilateral triangle is parallel to theside edges 15 of the plate 11, and the third side of the equilateraltriangle forms an angle of approximately 45° with a line parallel to thetop edge 13 and the bottom edge 14 of the plate 11. The protrusions canhave a cross section with other geometric forms. The back surface 10 hasan indented protrusion 18 for accepting the handle of another cleaningtool such as a broom. Also the indented protrusion 18 is used to acceptone's fingers or foot to exert a downward pressure in order to unlatchthe dustpan 1.

The second latching member 6 has a second latching interface 19(considered to be the back surface of the upper latching member 6) and afront surface 20 and consists of a main body 21 and two spaced apartparallel channels 22 which become hooks 23 facing the latching surfaceof the second latching member 6. Each hook 23 has a lowest part 23 a anda tip 23 b. The main body has a top edge 24, a bottom edge 25 and twospaced apart parallel and equal side edges 26. The length of top edge 24is approximately equal to the length of the bottom edge 25 but greaterthan the length of the side edges 26. The two channels 22 are locatedequidistantly from the centerline of the main body 21 so that there is aspace between the channels 22 for a circular protrusion 27 adapted toaccept the handle 3. The circular protrusion 27 can be substituted witha circular indentation.

Each of the two channels 22 has a top wall 28 and two spaced apartparallel side walls 29. The inner of the two side walls 29 faces thehandle 3 and starts at the top edge 24 of the main body 21. The outer ofthe two side walls 29 is longer allowing for its upward and subsequentdownward extensions and a termination in the form of a hook 22 facingthe second latching interface 19 of the lower latching member 6. Themain body 21 of the lower latching member 6 is pivotally connected withthe dustpan receptacle 2. The pivotal connection 7 consists of two slots30 located at the center and near the bottom edge 25 of the main body21, and pivotal protrusions 31 located on the dustpan receptacle 2. Thepivotal connection can consists of other types of pivotal connectionknown in the art. The latching surface of the lower latching memberfurther contains two arcuate protrusions 32 located near the bottom edge25 of the main body 21 of the lower latching member 6, and equidistantlyfrom the centerline of the main body 21.

The dustpan receptacle 2 consists of a top wall 33, a bottom wall 34,back wall 35 and a pair of spaced apart parallel side walls 36. The backwall 35 has an opening 37, which is located centrally and has a widthequal to the distance between the tips of the hooks 22 of the upperlatching member 5. The opening 37 starts at said bottom wall 34 at aplace for a pivotal connection 7, and continues through said back wall35 and said top wall 33. The back wall 35 has two parallel slots 38 eachof them located on each side of the opening 37. The top wall 33 has twoparallel protruding edges 39 on each side of the opening 37 and facingthe bottom wall 34. The bottom wall 34 can have a blade portion 40 forthe easier pick up of the waste and a shoulder 41 for preventing thewaste from slipping out of the dustpan receptacle 2 once it has beenswept in. The shoulder 41 is located near the blade portion 40 andconsists of a part of the bottom wall 34, which is raised above theremaining part of the bottom wall 34. The top wall 33 of the dustpanreceptacle terminates with a broom cleaning edge 42.

The dustpan 1 contains a spring 43 wrapped around the lower end 8 of thehandle 3 and located between said hollow rod 12 of the upper latchingmember 5 and the accepting circular protrusion 27 of the lower latchingmember 6.

The handle 3 can have an opening 44 or a hook for suspending the dustpan1, an ergonomically shaped handle 45 making the use easier and lessfatiguing and an indented protrusion 46 for accepting another cleaningtool such as a broom. The handle 3 can be elongated for cleaning floorswithout the necessity to bend over, or shortened for cleaning raisedsurfaces such as tables, desks and others. The handle 3 can be hollow asto accept other cleaning tools such as brooms, dusters and others.

FIG. 1 shows the dustpan 1 in its unlatched vertical position, which isutilized to comfortably discharge the waste directly into trashcans, toattach an additional cleaning tool such as a broom and to easily storeit. FIG. 1 shows that the upper latching member 5 is connected to thelower latching member 6 through an interaction between the latchinginterface 9 of the upper latching member 5 and the latching interface 19of the lower latching member 6. The protrusions 17 of the upper latchingmember 5 fit into the channels 22 of the lower latching member 6.

In order to use the dustpan 1 for a waste pickup, one has to latch thehooks 23 of the lower latching member 6 onto the two parallel protrudingedges 39 of the top wall 33 of the dustpan receptacle 2 as shown on FIG.2 depicting the dustpan 1 in its latched horizontal position. Thedistance between the lowest parts 23 a of the hooks 23 is slightlysmaller than the width of the opening 37 on the top wall 33 of thedustpan receptacle 2. The distance between the tips 23 b of the hooks 23is slightly greater that width of the opening 37 on the top wall 33 ofthe dustpan receptacle 2. These distance differences allow the hooks 23to slide into the opening 37 and to hook onto the protruding edges 39 ofthe top wall 33. Furthermore, the two arcuate protrusions 32 on thesecond latching interface 19 of the lower latching member 6 fit into theslots 38 of the dustpan receptacle 2 preventing the movement of thelatching mechanism and resulting in a more stable latched dustpan. Thedustpan receptacle 2 is moved about its pivotal connection 7 so that thedustpan receptacle 2 is perpendicular to the handle. The latching of thedustpan 2 does not require any pressure but only the movement of thedustpan receptacle to its horizontal position.

To unlatch the dustpan 1, one has to exert downward pressure on theupper latching member 5 so that the spring 43 is being pressed downwardand reduced in length. As a result, each of the protrusions 17 slidesinto each of the channels 22 of the lower latching member 6 in adownward direction, each of the pointed protrusions 16 of the upperlatching member 5 fit between each of the channels 22 of the lowerlatching member 6 and the handle 3 resulting in flexing the channels 22and hooks 23 away from the protruding edges 39 and disengaging andunlatching the hooks 23. As a result of this disengagement, the weightof the dustpan receptacle 2 causes a pivotal traverse and provides forits discharge and achieving a storage position. The subsequent releaseof the upper latching member 5 causes the return of the upper latchingmember 5 to its original position under spring urgency.

From the above description, it should be readily appreciated that thedustpan substantially simplifies the dustpan's operational, constructionand repair mode. A latitude of modifications and substitutions isintended. As a result, the appended claims should be construed broadlyin a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

1. A dustpan comprising a dustpan receptacle; a handle; a latchingmechanism comprising an upper latching member having a first latchinginterface and a lower latching member having a second latchinginterface, said handle being connected to said dustpan receptacle bysaid latching mechanism, said lower latching member being pivotallyconnected to and adapted to hook to said dustpan receptacle, and saidfirst latching interface being connected to said second latchinginterface.
 2. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle isconnected to said upper latching member and said lower latching member.3. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first latchinginterface has a ramp, said second latching interface has a hook, andsaid ramp is adapted to unlatch said hook.
 4. The dustpan as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said first latching interface has two ramps and saidsecond latching interface has two hooks, said ramps being adapted toslide between and unlatch said hooks.
 5. The dustpan as claimed in claim4, wherein said upper latching member further contains a hollow cylinderfor accepting said handle, said ramps being located on each side of saidhollow cylinder.
 6. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidfirst latching interface includes two parallel protrusions, saidprotrusions being adapted to fit into channels on said lower latchingmember.
 7. The dustpan as claimed in claim 6, wherein said protrusionsare columns.
 8. The dustpan as claimed in claim 7, wherein said columnshave a triangular cross section.
 9. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1,wherein said upper latching member has a member for receiving one ofuser's foot, user's fingers and a broom's handle.
 10. The dustpan asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan receptacle is cable of having alatched horizontal position and unlatched vertical position.
 11. Thedustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan receptacle iscapable of being unlatched by hand so that one can easily discard thecontent of said dustpan receptacle directly into a trashcan.
 12. Thedustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dustpan receptacle is capableof being unlatched by foot.
 13. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1,further comprising a spring, said spring being wrapped around saidhandle and located between said upper latching member and said lowerlatching member.
 15. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidhandle is one of a short handle and a long handle.
 16. The dustpan asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said handle is a hollow rod for accepting anadditional cleaning tool.
 17. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid handle has one of a hook or slot for suspending said handle. 18.The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle has anindentation for accepting another cleaning member such as a broom. 19.The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dustpan receptacle has abroom-cleaning edge.
 20. The dustpan as claimed in claim 1, wherein saiddustpan receptacle has a front blade portion and a shoulder, saidshoulder being slightly raised so that received debris would not slideback from the receptacle.